Nicole Andrews
Client Service Associate
OUR TEAM
Nicole Andrews
CLIENT SERVICE ASSOCIATE
ABOUT NICOLE:
Nicole assists financial advisor Chris Swanson as a Client Service Associate in Hudson, WI. During her time working for Chris, she has gained knowledge and experience in the world of advising and has been studying to be a licensed advisor while maintaining her Series 7. After graduating from North Central University with a degree in Accounting and Finance, she gathered four years of experience in Individual and Estate Tax at a firm on the west side of the Twin Cities.
Nicole grew up in River Falls and met her husband Tate at school in Minneapolis. After living in Minnesota for the last 5+ years and having their son Miles, they have decided to move closer to family and work. They spend their time at the family cabin, drinking coffee and cheering on the Green Bay Packers—go, Pack, Go!
Dawn Bembenek
Client Relationship Manager
OUR TEAM
Dawn Bembenek
CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
About Dawn:
Dawn Bembenek resided in Franklin, WI for a number of years with her family before moving to Clear Lake, WI in 2015. Dawn has been in the financial industry for over 25 years and holds her Series 7 and 63 licenses. Throughout her career, Dawn has always felt that the most rewarding part of her day is talking and helping clients with their everyday needs.
Dawn and her husband live in Clear Lake with their two children who are currently attending UW-River Falls and UW-Stout. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, scrapbooking and participating in local events.
Dave Hawley
Client Service Associate
OUR TEAM
Dave Hawley
CLIENT SERVICE ASSOCIATE
About Dave:
Dave is located in our Hudson office and is responsible for supporting the operations team and strengthening our capacity for client experience. He graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities at the Carlson School of Management with a Bachelor of Science in Business while majoring in finance. Dave maintains his Series 7 and Series 63 through LPL Financial and his Series 65 held through Great Valley Advisor Group.
Dave has a passion for travel and has explored 49 states with his family. He’s committed to serving others through his local church and enjoys building strong connections with friends and family. In his spare time, he stays active by golfing, lifting weights, playing board games, and getting outside whenever he can.
Josie Johnson
Client Service Associate
OUR TEAM
Josie Johnson
CLIENT SERVICE ASSOCIATE
ABOUT JOSIE:
Josie is responsible for client communications, operations, and leads IPG’s marketing efforts. From managing the website and social media to designing marketing materials, she ensures our brand stays clear, engaging, and aligned with our values. Josie is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications and Communication Studies.
Outside of the office, Josie is passionate about photography, travel, serving at church, and spending time at the lake with friends and family. She brings a strong background in leadership, having served as Captain of the UW–River Falls Women’s Lacrosse team and later as Head Coach for the Women’s Lacrosse program at the University of Northwestern–St. Paul.
Leif Johnson, APMA™
Paraplanner
OUR TEAM
Leif Johnson, APMA™
Paraplanner
ABOUT Leif:
Leif joined IPG in 2025 and is responsible for supporting the advisors with various research and planning needs. He is a graduate from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a degree in economics, and he currently maintains his APMA™ designation along with the series 7, 66 and insurance licenses held with LPL Financial. An insatiable learner, he is always pursuing his next certification.
Leif is an avid spearfisherman and spends as much time as he can enjoying the Minnesota winters. When the lakes aren’t frozen, he enjoys log rolling, beach volleyball, biking, breweries, and a regular round of golf.
Justin Larson, CFA®
Chief Investment Officer
OUR TEAM
Justin Larson, CFA®
Chief Investment Officer
ABOUT JUSTIN:
Justin is responsible for maintaining, implementing, and monitoring Innovative Planning Group’s investment strategy. Justin is a CFA® charter holder, an active member of the CFA Society of Minnesota where he serves on the Membership Committee and holds degrees in Finance & Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Prior to joining IPG, Justin worked as an investment analyst, financial analyst, and accounting analyst at various companies and LPL Financial. Justin maintains his Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 licenses held through LPL Financial.
Justin and his wife, Kylie, live in Corcoran, MN. They have a son, Rowan, and a golden retriever named Piper. In his spare time, Justin enjoys relaxing with family, going out to eat, golfing, and watching sports. He regularly listens to finance and economic podcasts and enjoys reading nonfiction.
Steven McKenna
CPA
OUR TEAM
Steven McKenna
CPA
About Steven:
Steven is a Certified Public Accountant and Principal of IPG Tax & Consulting Services. Steven received his bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in Finance, and his Master of Accountancy from Carlson School of Management. Steven is excited to be part of the Innovative Planning Group team and to help our clients with tax preparation and consulting services.
Steven and his family have lived in Woodbury for over 20 years. He enjoys traveling, golfing, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.
Jacob Ring
Investment Operations
OUR TEAM
Jacob Ring
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
ABOUT JACOB:
Jacob is a member of the investment operations team at Innovative Planning Group, where he assists with all trading activities and collaborates with the advisors to help ensure portfolios are aligned with the firm's proprietary model structures. He graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a double major in Finance and Financial Markets. During his time there, Jacob participated in the CFA Global Research Challenge and co-managed the healthcare sector of the Bulldog Fund, a $4 million student-managed investment fund. Prior to joining IPG, Jacob gained experience on the sell-side conducting small- and micro-cap stock research. He has also held roles in wealth management and accounting.
Jacob resides in Stillwater, MN, and enjoys CrossFit, golfing, fishing, listening to podcasts, exploring local breweries, and spending time with family at the cabin.
Nolan Schoonveld
Director of Operations
OUR TEAM
Nolan Schoonveld
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
About Nolan:
Nolan Schoonveld is a driven and strategic-minded operations leader with a deep passion for financial planning, technology, and personal growth. As Director of Operations, Nolan specializes in streamlining systems, optimizing workflows, and elevating client experiences. His experience at IPG includes advisor and client onboarding, team SOP development, compliance operations, and implementing cutting-edge tools to enhance advisor efficiency and support business growth. Nolan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from Hamline University, where he played collegiate baseball and served as a team captain for three of his four years. His time on the field instilled a lasting appreciation for structure, accountability, and leadership.
Outside the office, Nolan is actively involved in community service. He serves on the Young Professionals Board of Directors for Special Olympics Minnesota and Hamline University’s Piper Athletic Association. He also organizes the Blue Ocean Invitational, a golf tournament benefiting Special Olympics Minnesota athletes. Nolan blends his passion for golf, sports, leadership, and legacy-building into everything he does—whether he’s enhancing client experiences, refining internal operations, or sharing insights gained from nearly a decade of helping build a successful advisory practice. When he’s not working, you’ll likely find Nolan at his family’s lake home, spending time with loved ones, or crafting humorous and inspirational content that reflects his journey of personal and professional growth.
Trevor Wasbotten, WMCP®
Director of Financial Planning
OUR TEAM
Trevor Wasbotten, WMCP®
Director of Financial Planning
ABOUT TREVOR:
Trevor is responsible for assisting in the preparation of various client meeting topics, as well as implementing trading activities in accordance with the overall investment strategy. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Business Administration, while majoring in Finance and Management. Trevor also maintains his Series 7, 66, and SIE through LPL Financial.
Trevor lives in Hudson, WI. He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his friends and family. Some of his favorite activities include kayaking, exploring the state park, and boating trips on the St. Croix River.
Nick Swanson
Medicare & Employee Benefits Specialist
OUR TEAM
Nick Swanson
MEDICARE & EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPERT
About Nick:
Nick has a passion for connecting with people, and started Ezra Insurance Group with a mission to simplify the process of finding health insurance coverage for his clients.
Nick has a unique background, allowing him to serve as a resource for clients for all of their Health Care needs. Nick first received his health insurance license in 2007 and has served in several Leadership roles across health care including: a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Clinical Operations Leadership at Allina Health and Summit Orthopedics, Broker & Client Relationship Manager at one of the top 3 brokerages in the world and leading a pharmacy start-up in New York.
Nick currently lives in Prescott, WI with his wife Rachel and their two kids Liv & Leo on their family farm. Nick loves spending time with his family, including their chocolate lab Lucy, and everything outdoors - hunting, fishing and camping. Nick also enjoys travel, and recently spent two weeks in Alaska on a 100-mile float trip through the Arctic Circle.
